They cycled the last 30 miles from Sheffield to complete a lap of honour around the pitch just before the last home game of the regular season.

Also arriving back at the stadium was a hero of heroes, David Elliott, who had run all the way.

The 40-year-old struggled through physical and mental anguish for the last nine days, running the equivalent of a marathon a day.

David, of Upper Cumberworth, has raised £4,000 so far.

Town chairman Dean Hoyle – who also took part in the challenge – spoke of his immense pride in the 280 cyclists.

“It has been a long, hard, gruelling event through intense cold and some appalling weather,’’ he said. “At times people have been on the verge of hypothermia.

“To raise around £1/4m is an amazing achievement and you could see the emotion on the cyclists’ faces as they neared Huddersfield and supporters came out to cheer them on. I’ve never been so glad to see Emley Moor Mast in my life as when we passed through Shepley. The camaraderie has been absolutely superb and there will certainly be a fourth Pedal For Pounds.’’

Others returning to the welcome cheers of appreciation were Town’s Tandemettes, a group of 13 businesswomen aged between 30 and 45.

Dressed in pink feather boas and still listening to the music that spurred them along, they voiced their pride in accomplishing the gruelling ride.

Vicki Davenport, sales and commercial director at The Pink Link, said: “A lot of blood, sweat and tears have gone into it – as well as plenty of Deep Heat!

“It’s been extremely hard but it’s been an amazing thing to be part of and I’m absolutely elated that our team has done it.

“Not one of us had been on a bike before January and we trained really hard.

“I put in over 1,000 miles of training – but I think the terrain around here prepared us for all the hills.”

The team has already raised over £16,000 in sponsorship and hope that money will continue to flood in.

Another member, Mandy Barwick, from Golcar, said the great atmosphere spurred riders on when the weather wasn’t on their side.

“We’ve had some rotten conditions,’’ she said. “For some of the route we were following the flood lines so we were soaked to the skin.

“But we made sure we looked after each other and the sense of camaraderie has been wonderful.

“We had fantastic support along the way. When we were at Birdsedge a little girl came running out of her garden and gave us £20.”

Town legend Andy Booth said that he had fared well apart from a couple of punctures coming out of Yeovil.

“There were a few dark moments,’’ he said. “The hardest day was when we cycled 95 miles and had to manage some big hills.

“But when we saw the tremendous reaction from all the families and supporters it made it all worthwhile.

“It’s amazing how much the ride has grown from 23 of us in the first year and it keeps getting bigger and better.